Press Releases
Durbin, Grassley Introduce Bill to Put Cameras in the Supreme Court
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced legislation today to require open proceedings of the Supreme Court to be televised. The bipartisanCameras in the Courtroom Act would require the Supreme Court to permit television coverage of all open sessions of the Court, unless the Court decides, by a majority vote of the Justices, that doing so … Continue Reading
March 18, 2021
Durbin Statement on DNI Assessment on Threat Posed By Domestic Violent Extremists
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), on behalf of the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC), released its assessment of the threat posed by domestic violent extremists. Specifically, the IC assesses that "racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists"-a category consisting largely of white supremacist extremists-are most likely to … Continue Reading
March 18, 2021
Durbin Urges Judiciary Committee Members to Support Monaco and Gupta Nominations for Justice Department
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today called on his Senate colleagues in the Judiciary Committee to support the nominations of Lisa Monaco to be U.S. Deputy Attorney General and Vanita Gupta to be U.S. Associate Attorney General. Durbin argued that Monaco and Gupta are the experienced and dedicated leaders we need to restore integrity and independence to the Department of Justice. The Judiciary Committee is set to vote on … Continue Reading
March 18, 2021
Durbin, Duckworth, Colleagues Introduce For the People Act to Strengthen Democracy
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined their colleagues in introducing S.1., the For the People Act-a sweeping package of comprehensive reforms that would end special interest corruption of our politics and make government work for the people. The introduction comes as Republican lawmakers in 43 states continue to use unfounded election conspiracies regarding the 2020 presidential election to push to restrict Americans' access … Continue Reading
March 18, 2021
Durbin, Deutch Introduce Legislation to Create Bond Program to Fund Efforts Combating Climate Change
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Ted Deutch (D-FL-22) today introduced the Climate Change Resiliency Fund for America Act, a bicameral bill that would authorize the U.S. Department of Treasury to issue from $200 million up to $1 billion in state and local tax-exempt "climate bonds" annually for any American to purchase and contribute to the government's efforts to combat the impacts of climate change. The legislation would set up a system similar to the war … Continue Reading
March 18, 2021
Durbin, Deutch Introduce Legislation to Create Bond Program to Fund Efforts Combating Climate Change
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Ted Deutch (D-FL-22) today introduced the bicameral Climate Change Resiliency Fund for America Act. The bill would authorize the U.S. Department of Treasury to issue from $200 million up to $1 billion in state and local tax-exempt "climate bonds" annually for any American to purchase and contribute to the government's efforts to combat the effects of climate change. The legislation would mirror the national war … Continue Reading
March 17, 2021
Durbin Meets with the League of Conservation Voters
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met virtually with the League of Conservation Voters to discuss environmental protection and climate change priorities. Durbin and the group discussed key land and water conservation priorities, centering equity and justice in environmental work, and the importance of confirming a diverse set of judges who respect science. Durbin also discussed the importance of Senate Judiciary Committee … Continue Reading
March 17, 2021
Durbin: to the People of Atlanta and the AAPI Community, I am Standing with You
WASHINGTON - Following a shooting in Atlanta where a gunman murdered eight people-six of whom were women of Asian descent-in what appears to be an act of domestic terrorism, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke out against hate crimes targeting the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin also advocated for passage of his Domestic Terrorism … Continue Reading
March 17, 2021
Durbin: Republican Objections to Becerra Nomination Must End
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) slammed Republican obstruction of the nomination of Xavier Becerra to serve as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Becerra's nomination was announced three months ago and is still being blocked by Senate Republicans despite a majority of Senators supporting his nomination. Durbin said that delaying Becerra's confirmation only hurts the United States as we try to beat the … Continue Reading
March 17, 2021
Durbin Meets with Illinois Food Banks to Discuss Food Insecurity
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with Feeding Illinois, which represents eight food banks that serve Illinoisans, to discuss President Biden's American Rescue Plan, food insecurity, and child nutrition. "Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, one in nine Illinois residents struggled with consistent access to meals, including one in six children. COVID-19 has exacerbated these challenges, but President Biden's Rescue Plan makes historic investments to … Continue Reading
March 17, 2021
Durbin, Feinstein, Leahy, Klobuchar Statement on House Passage of VAWA Reauthorization Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statements after the House of Representatives passed the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2021. The Senators have been working to prepare companion legislation, which they hope to introduce in the coming weeks. "The … Continue Reading
March 17, 2021
Durbin Meets with Illinois Diaper Bank Organizations
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with Loving Bottoms, Share Our Spare, Keeping Families Covered, and Cradles to Crayons - Illinois member organizations of the National Diaper Bank Network - to discuss diaper needs in Illinois in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the work the organizations are doing to get diapers to families in need. Durbin discussed President Biden's American Rescue Plan and his support for the End Diaper Need Act. "Diaper … Continue Reading
March 17, 2021
Durbin Presses for Passage of Equality Act in Historic Judiciary Committee Hearing
WASHINGTON - During today's historic hearing on the Equality Act - legislation that codifies federal civil rights protections for LGBTQ Americans - in the Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, pushed back on arguments that the Equality Act could impact religious institutions or people of faith, as well as claims that passing this legislation would discriminate against people of faith or cause legal and social harms on … Continue Reading
March 17, 2021
Durbin Delivers Opening Remarks in Historic Judiciary Committee Hearing on the Equality Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during a Judiciary Committee hearing on the Equality Act, legislation that codifies federal civil rights protections for LGBTQ Americans. This is the first time the U.S. Senate has held a hearing on the legislation, which the House of Representatives passed with bipartisan support last month. "Since the dawn of our Republic, LBGTQ Americans have made … Continue Reading
March 17, 2021
Durbin, Graham Statement on House Passage of Legislation to Strengthen the Victims of Crime Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statements after the House of Representatives unanimously passed critical legislation to strengthen the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) by fixing how the Crime Victims Fund (CVF) is funded. This legislation, which Durbin and Graham are the lead authors of in the Senate, will redirect monetary … Continue Reading
March 16, 2021
Durbin Discusses American Rescue Plan, COVID-19 Response with Illinois Community Health Centers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with leaders from Illinois Community Health Centers (CHCs) and the Illinois Primary Health Care Association (IPHCA) to discuss President Biden's American Rescue Plan, health disparities, and vaccine distribution in Illinois. Durbin heard from CHCs about their efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, and highlighted his efforts to expand participation of Illinois CHCs within the new federal program that directly … Continue Reading
March 16, 2021
Durbin, Bipartisan Colleagues Introduce Resolution Reaffirming Support for Good Friday Agreement
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Susan Collins (R-ME) to introduce a bipartisan resolution in support of the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, or the Belfast Agreement, and subsequent agreements and arrangements to support peace on the island of Ireland. "There is bipartisan resolve in the U.S. Congress to see the full realization of the Good Friday Agreement for the people of Northern Ireland," Durbin … Continue Reading
March 16, 2021
Senate Judiciary Committee Announces Majority Witnesses for Hearing on the Equality Act
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee Majority released the names of witnesses who will testify before a full committee hearing entitled "The Equality Act: LGBTQ Rights are Human Rights" on legislation that codifies federal civil rights protections for LGBTQ Americans. The hearing will take place tomorrow, March 17 at 10:00 AM ET in 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building. Panel I The Honorable Jeff Merkley United States Senator (D-OR) Washington, DC The Honorable Tammy … Continue Reading
March 16, 2021
Durbin: USPS Service in Illinois and Across United States is in Chaos
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) slammed the policies of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, which have slowed down the United States Postal Service (USPS) and unacceptably decreased service for millions of Americans who rely on it. Many Americans continue to face unacceptable problems in postal delivery performance, which has affected prescription medication delivery, mortgage and utility bill payments, insurance policies, small … Continue Reading
March 16, 2021
Durbin Meets with Illinois Corn Growers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, today met virtually with the Illinois Corn Growers Association to discuss agriculture priorities in Illinois, including strengthening the future marketplace for biofuels, federal funds for modernizing Illinois' locks and dams, and the ongoing conservation practices and future opportunities for farmers in addressing climate change. "I had an informative meeting … Continue Reading